Trustees powwow over Indian Run Phase 5

June 20, 2013

Canfield Township Trustees set aside part of the June 11 meeting to get some answers on the Indian Run Phase 5 project that was supposed to ease flooding. The project had taken longer than expected and there were still issues over the completion.

"The project has spots that need to be reseeded," said Chairman Tony Bettile. "Also, water is not supposed to be standing and we are missing the 10 willow trees that were promised."

Battile had township administrator Keith Rogers go over the timeline for the project. He said the township passed a resolution for pre-application to the Ohio Public Works Commission for Phase 5. That came after Phase 4 was almost completed, which included stream restoration in the Starr Centre Drive area.

The project was originally set to begin in March of 2011 and be completed by July of that year. The project was delayed after the suggestion that Phase 4 be totally completed. Gary Diorio suggested waiting to the following spring to begin work. Letters were sent to residents stating the reason for the delay.

In January of 2012, MS Consultants completed the design work for a retention pond and the project was put out to bid. In March of 2012, the bids were opened, according to Rogers and Diorio said the township had not yet received the required EPA permit. The project was set to start around mid April and be completed by June 30.

Additional problems including a further delay on the permit from the Army Corp of Engineers and a quantities list that didn't match the contract documents, held the project up. Eclipse Company, who was awarded the bid, started work on May 30, 2012, but was again held up while awaiting a review of the quantities list. That eventually caused the project finish date to move to July 19.

In September of 2012, Diorio attended a township meeting and discussed ponding on the site. Diorio presented a new completion date of Aug. 10 and the trustees were holding on to July 30. That meant 11 days of liquidation damages at $200 per day for a total of $2,200. On top of that, the trees planned to prevent bank erosion hadn't yet been planted.

In December, trustees said they would consider waving the liquidation damages in place of contractor remobilizing the crew and equipment to the site.

Rogers said on Feb. 28 an email was sent from Diorio saying repairs to eliminate standing water had been made and areas of erosion had been regraded. The trustees had also passed a change order on April 23 to replace the original 750 saplings that may have washed out with 10 young willow trees that would withstand a washout.

At last week's meeting Bettile brought in photos of the new pond and the standing water which had algae growing in it. Other photos showed clear bare spots that were supposed to be seeded. John Pierko from MS Consultants attended the meeting and heard the complaints from trustees.

Bettile displayed the photos and explained each one. He said the banks have some erosion damage, the trees need to be planted and several large bare spots needed to be seeded before the project could be called complete. He also mentioned the standing water problem that needed to be dealt with.

Pierko said he would like to get copies of the photos so he can address the issues with the contractor. He said the contractor was coming back no later than June 19 to make the repairs.

"By no later than (June 19) the contractor is supposed to return and fix the problems and install the willow trees," he told trustees.

On a different matter, Rogers reported on the recent appliance drive at the Canfield Fairgrounds. He said there were 146 vehicles at the drive. In total, the collection yielded 15,160 pounds of appliances.

"That is up from last year's drive which saw 108 vehicles go through and 11,360 pounds of appliances collected," Rogers said.

He thanked the Canfield Gridiron Club and the football team for helping with the heavy appliances.

In other business:

Doris Puerner from the Loghurst Museum on U.S. 224 invited trustees to attend their special meeting at 1 p.m. June 24 at the museum to discuss its future. She told trustees the Western Reserve Historical Society is not giving any funding for the museum's operation this year and trustees want to save it.

Trustees approved the declaration of the following properties as nuisance properties: 6445 Ohio 446; 8442 Leffingwell Road; 6345 Catawba Drive; and 4257 Burgett Lane. Letters will be sent to the listed owners giving them seven days to remedy the problem.